NEW DELHI, NOV 24, 2015: MR Bandaru Dattatreya, Union Minister for Labour & Employment, today launched the Digital Signatures based Online Registration of Establishments (OLRE) in a function held in Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, Head Office.

Explaining the process in detail, Mr Dattatreya informed that the online registration will be done once the applicant employer registers himself on the OLRE Portal. Subsequent to creation of User ID and password the employer will have to register his/her digital signature (class II or III). Thereafter, the PAN number of the employer would be verified online. On successful verification of PAN the employer will be able to apply online for code number which would require the employer to upload the relevant documents after digitally authenticating the same. On completion of this process the name of the applicant employer would be auto populated in the application in owner details field. All details related to the Code Number shall be available for the applicant employer on the login. The Code Number to the applicant employer shall be allotted immediately on successful submission of the application which would mean that the process is successfully completed.

Mr Bandaru Dattatreya further informed that this facility will not only reduce the workload of the employer, but will also reduce the paperwork for both employer as well as the EPFO. It will be a quick and hassle free process. The process of applying for a branch code by any employer already having the PF Code will remain unchanged and will be available through the ECR login. The validation of only one code number can be done through this facility for a given PAN number and for any subsequent code for any branch or establishments under same PAN number the application will be through the ECR Portal. As a result of this facility, the employer would have a digital signature at the time of application itself and this can be used by employer for other areas such as the Online Transfer Claim Portal and authentication of KYC details of members joining the establishment. The use of paperwork would be reduced significantly and the filing of documents would be as per the convenience of the employer.

Mr Shankar Aggarwal, Secretary, Labour & Employment also applauded the efforts made by EPFO in introducing user free services in recent past and stated that this software which is being launched today would especially be a big leap forward in fulfilling the mandate of the Government in ensuring the ease of doing business in the country which is one of the prime areas of concern for the administration today. He further encouraged EPFO to introduce more such ventures in the days to come.

Mr K.K. Jalan, Central PF Commissioner stated that EPFO is committed to strengthen the e-governance system and to provide better services to its stakeholders. EPFO has already launched a number of e-governance initiatives such as Electronic Challan-cum-Return, Member e-passbook SMS governance, payment through National Electronic Fund Transfer, electronic return to collect the missing details of members etc. This process is not going to stop and EPFO would continue its efforts to make the working more transparent and convenient for all stakeholders.

Mr Bandaru Dattatreya also honoured a few officers/officials of the Organisation for their efficiency and diligence.